Box-forming machine



April 20, 1937.

M. A. WATERS BOX FORMING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet lApril 20, 1937. M. A. WATERS BOX FORMING MACHINE Filed June 22. 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Marshall AA/damn- April 20, 1937. M. A. WATERS BOXFORMING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 &

I r 0 d Marshall Awai EIS.

April 20, 1937. M. A. WATERS BOX FORMING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJune 22, 1935 AWafEr's atented Apr. 20, 137

BUX-FORMHNG MACHINE Marshall A. Waters, Green Bay, Wis.

Application June 22,

4 Cla This invention pertains to box-forming machines, and moreparticularly to machines for folding and securing the sides of a paperbox blank together.

The invention has primarily for its object to provide a comparativelysimple, inexpensive, and eflicient machine of maximum capacity, in whichthe gluing and various folding operations are automaticallyandprogressively performed as the blank is carried through the machine.Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific obect of the invention isto provide a machine in which the blanks are delivered to a rotarycarrier, that conveys them through tucking, foldmg, and clampingmechanisms, which automatically complete the forming of the boxes thatare then discharged from the carrier.

A further object resides in the provision of hlghly novel means forselecting and feeding the blanks in the forming mechanisms, includingsuction means for separating the lowermost blank from the stack, wherebythe same is delivered to the feeding mechanism.

Another object is to provide a novel form of gluing mechanism forapplying adhesive to portions of the blanks.

A still further object resides in the provision of rotary grippers forefiecting final adherence of the blanks upon completion of the formingoperations.

It is also an object of the invention to provide novel means fordischarging the completed boxes from the carrier, including shifting ofthe gripping control means to quickly release and discharge the boxes.

Lastly, it is an object to provide for adjustment of the gluing andforming mechanisms to accommodate blanks of difierent characteristicsand dimensions.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly de- 45 fined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of theherein disclosed invention may be made as,

1935, Serial No. 27,876

a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, the samebeing as indicated generally by line l--l of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a transverse fragmentary section taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, arts beingbroken back to more clearly illustrate other structural features.

Figure 4 is a vertical fragmentary section through the gluing mechanism,the same being taken on the line d-d of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 1.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a typical blank handled by the presentmachine.

Figure 8 is a similar view of the tucking members for turning up theside tabs.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of 'the side folding plates.

Figure 10 diagrammatically illustrates the manner of folding the ends ofthe box.

Figure 11 is a similar view illustrating the gripping mechanism forturning over and securing the ends of the box, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the means for dischargingthe completed boxes from the can'ier.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a completemachine is illustrated for feeding individual blanks from a magazine orstack, gluing portions of the blank, and then conveying the same throughmechanisms for progressively performing the operations necessary forcompleting the box. However, particular attention is directed to thefact that the salient features of the invention reside in the novelforming mechanisms and means for conveying the. blanks therethrough.Therefore, the invention is not to be limited or restricted to thespecific means disclosed for feeding or gluing the blanks, as this maybe accomplished in other ways without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Considering now that form of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, the numeral l designates generally a framecomprising the longitudinal side struts 2 connected by suitabletransverse ends 3 supported upon legs 4.

For the purpose of explanation, that end of the machine into which theblanks are fed will be referred to as the front, and the opposite endthe rear.

As best'shown in Figures 1 and 6, a stock of blanks B, such asillustrated in Figure 7, are

placed upon the parallel tracks 5, between suitable upright channels 6,which are carried by the transverse shafts 1 secured to side frames 8mounted upon the longitudinal struts 2. Be-

tween the tracks 5 is a chain conveyor 9, which may be provided with oneor more carriers III that pick up the lowermost blank supported betweenthe tracks, and convey the same to a. gluing mechanism G, the carriersl0 being provided 10 with an overhanging tail II), which engages therear end of the blank to force the same along the tracks 5, afterleaving the conveyor, to the position in which they are engaged by thecarrier, as will be hereinafter described.

In order to feed one blank at a time from the bottom of the stack, ahighly novel mechanism is provided for selecting and delivering thelowermost blank to the parallel tracks 5. This is accomplished by meansof a plurality of spaced fingers ll, carried by a plate l2, which inturn is intermittently raised by means of a cam i 3 that engages theroller i4 suitably connected with the plate l2. Cooperating with thefingers II are the suction cups i5, carried by a bracket I6 which isalso intermittently raised and lowered by means of the cam II, thatengages the roller 3 connected with the bracket l6 by the stud l9.

Pivotally connected to the sides of the rear channel 6, as best shown inFigures 1 and 6, are

a pair of arms 20, which are connected by a yoke 2| with the piston 22of a suction cylinder 23 secured to the rear face of the channel,whereby desired oscillation of the arms 20 is obtained. Secured to thelower ends of the arms 20 is a divider blade 24, which, when projectedunder the stack of blanks B, serves to support the same above the tracks5.

In order to deliver the lowermost blank to the tracks 5, whereby thesame can be picked up by the conveyor 9, the cams l3 and H are timed tosimultaneously raise the fingers Ii and the vacuum cups i5,respectively, after which the suction cylinder 23 operates to oscillatethe arms 20 and withdraw the divider blade 24 from below the stack ofblanks. The suction cups are then lowered by means of the cam l1,causing the lowermost blank to be bowed downwardly, as disclosed inFigure 6, which permits sufficient clearance between the lowermost blankof the stack to allow entrance of the divider blade 24, after which thesupporting fingers II are lowered through the operation of the cam l3,to permit the lowermost blank to drop upon the tracks 5. The suction inthe cups I5 is then broken, and

the blank is conveyed forwardly by the carrier l0, and delivered to aposition above the glue pets 25, best shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The glue pots 25 are mounted on suitable brackets 26 carried by the sidestruts 2 of the frame I, and are transversely adjustable to accommodateblanks of different dimensions. At the same time the tracks 5, which arecarried by the glue pots 25, are also transversely adjusted, and inaddition to such adjustment the tracks 5 may be further adjusted on thesupporting angles 21, which serve to connect the tracks to the gluepots.

In that form of blank for which the present machine is designed, asillustrated in Figure '7,

it is merely necessary to apply acoating of adhesive material 28 to theinner faces of the side tabs 29, and the folds 30 of the ends of theblank. This is accomplished by means of dippers 3|, best shown in Figure4, and comprising arms-32 vertically guided by the studs 33, which areslidably journaled in bosses carried by the glue pots 25. Carried by thearms 32 are the studs 34, which are connected to the eccentrics 35mounted upon the' transverse shafts 36 and driven by sprockets 31connected by chains with the main 5 drive. The shafts 36 are journaledin the side frames, and also in a depending bracket 38 carried by theglue pots, and inasmuch as the shafts 36 are held against longitudinalmovement with relation to the glue pots, the shafts and eccen- 10 tries35 are simultaneously adjustable with the glue pots, it being merelynecessary to release the sprockets 31 when the glue pots aretransversely adjusted.

As best shown in Figure 4, the arms of the 15 dippers 3| are providedwith longitudinal plates 39, which, upon downward movement of the arms,are submerged in the adhesive contained in the glue pots, and upon beingelevated they engage the bottoms of the blanks B, supported on the 20tracks 5, to impart a coating of adhesive material to portions of theblank, as indicated in Figure 7.

As heretofore explained, the feeding and gluing mechanisms described areconsidered preferable, due to their simplicity and efficiency, but it isto be understood that these may be varied without departing from theinvention as pertains to the carrier and forming mechanisms about to bedescribed. 30

Prior to applying the adhesive to the blanks B, as heretofore explained,the same are gripped by a rotatable carrier 40, which includes aplurality of radial arms 4|, each of which is provided with a supportingplate 42 adapted to engage the blanks B as they rest on the tracks 5above the glue pots 25. Pivotally connected to each arm 4| is a bellcrank lever 43, which carries a gripping plate 44, that cooperates withthe supporting plate 42 of the adjacent arm, to firmly grip 40 a blankand carry the same through the various forming mechanisms to bedescribed. The bell cranks 43 are actuated by an internal cam 45, whichis journaled on a transverse shaft 46 to which the carrier 40 issecured. Aside from a 45 limited shifting actuation of the cam- 45, thesame is relatively stationary with respect to rotation of the carrier40, and is merely shifted slightly at intermittent periods to effect aquick release and discharge of the finished containers 50 from thesupporting plates 42, as will be hereinafter described.

The cam 45 is so generated as to cause each gripper plate to engage ablank supported on the tracks 5 above the glue pots 25, after which 65the blank is carried through the forming mechanism, indicated generallyas F and comprising arcuate front and rear plates 41 and 48,respectively, which serve to turn up the sides 49 of the blank (Figure9). As best shown in Figure 1, the 0 plates 41 and 48 are secured to thearms 50 and 5|, respectively, which are carried by the brackets 52,longitudinally adjustable on the bed plates 53, in order, toaccommodate. boxes of different widths. 5

At substantially the same time the side walls 49 are engaged by theplates 41 and 48, the end tabs are bent inwardly by the tuckers 54,which engage the tabs in the manner illustrated in Figure 8. The tuckers54 are adjustably carried by the arms 50 and 5i, which also carry theside folding plates 41 and 48. After the tabs 29 are' tucked inwardly,and the side walls 49 folded upwardly, the ends of the blank are engagedby the forming plates '55, which turn the ends upwardly I in the mannerdisclosed in Figure 10. The plates 55 are also adjustably carried bybrackets 56, mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the bed plates 53,similar to the brackets 52.

Next, the blank is carried to a horizontal position at the rear of themachine, in which the protruding ends 51 of the blank are turnedinwardly over the tabs 29 to complete the formation of the box (Figure11). This is accomplished by means of rotary grippers 58, positionedupon opposite sides of the carrier, and journaled in the heads 59, whichcarry the bed plates 53, and which are transversely adjustable on thevertical brackets 60, by means of hand wheels 8! secured to the shafts62 journaled in the brackets 60, and having threaded engagement with thebosses 63 carried by the heads 59. The brackets 60 are verticallyadjustable in the ways 56 on the main frame 1, whereby the grippers 58may be adjusted both transversely and vertically to accommodate boxes ofdifferent depth and length. This is accomplished by the vertical shafts90 revolubly connected with the brackets 50, and having threadedengagement in brackets 9i secured to the side frames 2. Hand-wheels 92are provided for rotating the shafts 90.

For actuating the rotary grippers 58, their rear stub shafts 65 areprovided with spur gears 56, which are engaged by oscillating sectors61, pivotally carried by the heads 59. The sectors 57 are provided withintegral arms 58, which carry the rollers 69 projecting into thehorizontal slots 10 formed in a vertical reciprocative head ll.Obviously, as the head H reciprocates, oscillatory movement will beimparted to the sectors 57, which in turn actuate the grippers 58.

The reciprocative head H is connected to a bracket I2 by spaced rods'73, while the bracket is slidably mounted upon a guide M carried by therear end 3 of the main frame l, as best shown in Figure 1.

Reciprocative movement is imparted to the bracket 12, and the head H, bymeans of an internal cam 75 mounted upon a shaft 18 journaled 5 in aportion of the main frame, and which ene gages a roller 12' carried bythe bracket 12.

The drive for the various parts of the machine is taken off of the maintransverse drive shaft I1 positioned at the rear of the machine, andconnected with the cam shaft 11' through the beveled gears 18.

The carrier shaft 46 is intermittently rotated by a conventional Genevadrive, including a star wheel 19 mounted on the stub shaft 80 carried byone of the side frame members-2; and, as best shown in Figure 5, thestar wheel, which is of the locking type, is intermittently actuated bya pin Bl carried by a revolving arm mounted on the driven shaft 82,which is also journaled in the side frame 2. Formed integral with thearm 8| is a mutilated hub 83, which serves to lock the star wheelagainst movement intermediate its operations, in the usual manner. Asuitable gear connection between the shaft and the main carrier shaft46, indicated in dotted lins in Figure 5, imparts intermittent rotarymovement to th carrier.

Considering now the mechanism for discharging the boxes from thecarrier, which operation takes place as each arm reaches its lowermostposition, particular attention" is directed to Figures 1 and 2, whereinit will be noted that the driven shaft 82 is also provided with a cam84, which oscillates a bell crank 85, the upper end of which is providedwith a stud 85 engaging a forked arm 81 mounted upon a sleeve 45projecting from the cam 45. It will be apparent from the foregoing, thatactuation of the forked arm 81 will cause the cam 45 to oscillatethrough a limited arc, and inasmuch as the cam 45 controls the operationof the bell crank levers 43, which.

effect gripping of the blanks on the carrier arms, shifting of the cam65 necessarily effects operation of the levers 53.

However, were the cam 45 to remain stationary, actuation of the cranklevers 55 would be gradual, and inasmuch as it is desired to effect aquick discharge of the'completed boxes fggn the carrier arms, after theyreach a pred Ermined position and are at rest, preferably at the bottomof their are, the cam 55 is shifted in the manner described to cause thelowermost arm 43 to move quickly away from its cooperating supportingplate 62. This action not only releases the box, but positively stripsthe same from the supporting plate, in that each arm 53 has adjustablymounted thereon a bracket 88, which in turn carries an adjustable finger89 normally positioned behind the adjacent supporting plate 42, as bestshown in Figure 12. As the arm 53 is rotated outwardly, the finger 89engages the upper edge of the box, and strips the same from the plate52, discharging the box into a suitable receptacle, or conveyor, notshown. Notches 52' formed in the supporting plate 52 permit the fingersB9 to pass by the plates.

Drive is imparted to the shaft 82 through a gear, and chain and sprocketconnection, with the main drive shaft H, as indicated in dotted lines inFigure l.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that a comparativelysimple and efficient box-forming machine has been provided, which ispositive in its operation, and capable of maximum capacity, due to thevarious operations taking place not only progressively butsimultaneously, as, for instance, gripping of the blank by the carrier,forming, and discharging the completed box, these operations beingperformed at various stations of the multiple carrier.

It is also to be understood that any number of radial carrier arms maybe employed, as well as a plurality of carriers positioned side by side,without departing from the spirit of the inventlon.

, While one form of box blank has been illustrated, it is to beunderstood that the present .machine is capable of handling other typesof blanks, such as a blank in which the end flaps 51 are eliminated. Inthat case, the grippers 58 would still function to clamp the ends of theblank and the tabs 29 into tight engagement while the adhesive issetting.

Attention is directed to the fact that the machine is completelyadjustable within predeterof blanks in the magazine formed by thevertical described. The blanks are then carried along the track-by thecarriers Ill connected to the conveyor chain 9. As the conveyor chainleaves the tracks on its return stretch, the tails ID of the 5 carriersl0 engage the edge of the blank and shove the same forward to apredetermined position over the glue pots. Operation of the dippers isso timed as to then apply a coating of adhesive to desired portions ofthe blanks, after which they are engaged between the supporting plates42 and the gripping members 44 of the carrier.

The carrier is then intermittently rotated onequarter of a circle, whichcarries the blanks through the forming mechanism F. The firstl5'1peration is effected by the tuckers 54 and the front and rearforming plates 41 and 48, and results in turning in the tabs 29 andfolding up the sides 49 of the blank. Following the foregoing operation,the ends of the box are engaged 0 by the forming plates 55, and are thusbent upwardly against the tabs 29.

When the carrier reaches a horizontal position at the rear of themachine, its movement is stopped through operation of the star wheel,and

while the carrier is located in this position, the

grippers 58 are oscillated to fold over the protruding ends 51, andsecurely grip them into tight engagement with the tabs 29 and end folds30. The carrier remains in this position until the adhesive has set,after which the grippers are rotated to their normal position. Thecarrier then continues its travel until the arm carrying the completedbox reaches its lowermost position, at which point the box is releasedand discharged,

as heretofore described.

Having thus explained the invention in considerable detail, it is to beunderstood that various changes are contemplated in structural andmechanical design, without departing from the 40 spirit of theinvention, the salient features of which residein the novel feeding,gluing, carrying, forming, and discharging mechanisms.

I claim:--

1. In a box-forming machine, a feeding mechanism, a magazine positionedabove the feeding mechanism for receiving a stack of paper blanks, meansfor separating the lowermost blank from the stack and delivering thesame to the feeding means, means for applying adhesive to portions ofthe blank, a rotary carrier for receiving said blanks, means foractuating the conveyor step by step and means for engaging the blankswhile on the carrier to form the same into. completed boxes. 5

2. In a box-forming machine, a feeding mechanism, a magazine positionedabove the feeding mechanism for receiving a stack of paper blanks, meansfor separating the lowermost blank from the stack and delivering thesame to the feeding means, means for applying adhesive to portions ofthe blank, a rotary carrier for receiving said blanks, means foractuating the conveyor step by step, means for engaging the blanks whileon the carrier to form the same into completed boxes, and means forstripping the completed boxes from the carrier;

3. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the blanks, means forimparting intermittent rotation to said carrier, forming meanscomprising stationary plates for engaging the sides and ends of theblank while on the carrier to fold the same upwardly from the bottom ofthe blank, and rotary grippers for engaging the ends of the blank tocomplete formation of the box.

4. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the paper blanks,means for actuating the carrier step-by-step, means for gripping theblanks on the carrier, means for performing the various formingoperations while the carrier is at rest, and means associated with thegripping means for stripping the boxes from the carrier.

A. WATERS.

